MLP celebrates with Goodsoil in the elimination of the ban in the ELCA
Posted Saturday, August 22 2009 @ 08:54 AM by Michael Adee
Celebrating the elimination of the ban against
ministers in same-gender relationships within the Evangelical Lutheran Church in
AmericaWhat is the word on today's vote by the
Churchwide Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church
in America from those who have been working for full
participation of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender persons in the Lutheran
Church?
Below is the press release from
Lutherans Concerned/North America and
Goodsoil. Lutherans Concerned/North America is a sister
organization to More Light Presbyterians and a founding, sponsoring organization
of IWR, the Institute for Welcoming Resources, the faith work project of the
National Gay and Lesbian Task Force.
To send notes of congratulations to our
friends and colleagues within LCNA you can send an email to: communications@lcna.org
Today, we celebrate 20 years of faithful work by
Lutherans Concerned/North America and the Goodsoil collaborative in this
extraordinary accomplishment of ending the ban against Lutheran ministers in
same-gender relationships. Today is a remarkable step toward the realization of
the full embrace of LGBT persons and their families and a Church for all of
God's children.
with hope and grace,
Michael
Michael J. Adee, M.Div., Ph.D., Executive
Director & Field Organizer
More Light Presbyterians, 369 Montezuma Avenue #
447, Santa Fe, New Mexico 87501 USA (505) 820-7082, michaeladee@aol.com, www.mlp.org
God's Whole Family!
PS -- Don't miss the Pro-LGBT Event of the
year ... you still have time to register and join us for "God's
Whole Family!" September 4 - 6, The National Welcoming & Affirming
Presbyterian Conference, hosted by Second Presbyterian Church, Nashville, TN and
produced by MLP. For more information and to register go to www.mlp.org
_______________________________________________________________
Press Release: Goodsoil celebrates the
elimination of the ban against ministers in same-gender
relationships
For Immediate Release, August 21, 2009
Media Contact: Phil Soucy, 703-980-2038, communications@lcna.org
Lutherans Concerned/North America celebrates the passage today of the Recommendation on Ministry Policies at the biennial churchwide assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) in Minneapolis, Minnesota. This action eliminates the 20-year-old ban against ministers in same-gender relationships.
Emily Eastwood, Executive Director of Lutherans Concerned/North America, said "Today I am proud to be a Lutheran. Supporters and advocates of full inclusion have longed for this day since the inception of the ELCA, and for many of us what seemed like a lifetime. The ELCA has always had gay ministers, now those and all ministers are free to claim who they are and to have the love and support of a lifelong partner, regardless of orientation or gender identity, which is all we ever asked. Policy change is a beginning not the end. We need to change practice as well as policy. Discrimination will diminish over time now. We pledge to work with the church, including with those who would oppose us, for reconciliation to fulfill our collective mission to spread the love of Christ for the sake of the world."
For the first time, the church has recognized the centrality of family in the lives of its LGBT ministers and made provision for the service in ministry of those ministers in committed, lifelong, same-gender relationships, ending the discriminatory two-tier system of the past and holding all ministers to the same high standard in their relationships.
At the same time, the church has demonstrated an understanding of the necessity for the bound consciences of its members to be respected by all. Congregations that wish to call a qualified minister in a committed, long-term, same gender relationship may do so without hindrance. And, congregations that do not wish to do so cannot be required to ever do so.
The member organizations of Goodsoil commit themselves to providing resources and assistance within the church to aid the work of full inclusion as the church seeks to recognize and celebrate the contributions of all its ministers regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.
About Goodsoil:
Goodsoil is a collaboration of organizations working for the full inclusion of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people and their families in the full ministerial and sacramental life of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). Goodsoil works to reconcile our church's policies and practices regarding same-gender marriage, blessings of covenanted unions, and the rostering of partnered LGBT ministers, harmonizing these with our shared values of faith, trust, commitment, monogamy, mutuality, and dignity. Goodsoil is comprised of Lutherans Concerned/North America (www.lcna.org), The Network for Full Inclusion (www.inclusivenet.com), and Wingspan Ministry (www.stpaulref.org/wingspan).
Phil Soucy
Director Communications LC/NA
communications@lcna.org